Jaguars notebook: Jaguars' Mathis impresses Brady

Because film study seems to be a hot-button issue this week, it's pretty obvious that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is doing his homework.

In preparation for Sunday's game between New England and Jacksonville, Brady spent time this week breaking down several components of the Jaguars' defense, especially cornerback Rashean Mathis and new coordinator Mel Tucker.

Brady was effusive in his praise of Mathis, calling the interception he made in the Jaguars' win over the New York Jets "incredible."

"The guy ran a flag route on him, [Jets quarterback Mark] Sanchez rolled to the left. He was open by about five yards," Brady said. "Sanchez laid it up, and [Mathis] caught up and looked it in over his shoulder. I said, '[Darn], a lot of receivers don't make that play.'"

Brady called Mathis a "weapon" for the Jaguars but noticed on film that Mathis tends to gamble.

"You've always got to know where he's at," Brady said. "He'll jump some routes and take some chances. But he's a [darn] good player."

Brady said that, under Tucker, the defense is significantly different than the one New England faced in the 2007 playoffs. In that playoff game, Brady said the Jaguars blitzed "probably four times."

"He's brought definitely a different style to their defense," Brady said. "They're much more of a blitzing defense now. It's like a 50 percent game. So it's preparing for a different defense. Even though there are still some of the same license plates out there, it's not necessarily the same scheme they're doing."

No trash-talk for Jones-Drew

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew likes to trade friendly barbs with opponents at times heading into games. But when asked recently about Patriots 325-pound nose tackle Vince Wilfork, Jones-Drew wasn't touching the subject.

"Why [trash-talk]? He would eat me," Jones-Drew said.

Wilfork missed New England's last game because of a foot injury and participated earlier in the week at practice in a limited capacity.

Etc.

In two games against the Patriots, Garrard has produced passer ratings of 113.5 and 100.3. ... The Patriots hold the edge over the Jaguars in average time of possession, 33:16 to 30:31. ... Jones-Drew ranks sixth in NFL history with 56 touchdowns in his first four seasons. Terrell Davis is No. 1, followed by LaDainian Tomlinson and Marcus Allen. Eric Dickerson, Chuck Foreman and Barry Sanders are tied for fourth with 57 TDs in their first four seasons.